Wall structure



- A. V. SPINOSA WALL STRUCTURE July 14, 1942.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 4, 1941 V on. ong Hu July 14, 1942. A. v. SPINOSAI WALL STRUCTURE Filed'March 4, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 14, 1942 WALL STRUCTURE.

Arthur V. Spinosa, Parkersbur W.Va., assignor to Penn Metal Company, Inc., Parkersburg, W. Va., a-corporation of Delaware Application March 4, 1941 Serial No. 381,735

-2 Claims.

This invention relates primarily to improvements in wall structures of the character disclosed in the copending application of Louis F. Sylvester, Serial Number 298,480, filed October '7, 1939, although the principle of the invention finds useful application to other forms of wall structure, particularly of the metallic frame type.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a novel form of metal stud for use primarily in plaster walls and partitions of the metal framework type, said studs constituting a support for the metal lath which commonly constitutes the immediate plaster-supporting element of the structure, and being formed so as to support the lath in a position suitably remote to the surface of the finished structure.

More specifically, the invention provides for the use, in a structure of the stated character,

of a metal base wherein the stud-supporting or bracing elements may be symmetrically arranged with respect to a longitudinal center line. and wherein, further, provision is made for mounting the lath on the studs in a position relatively close to said center line and remote to the face or faces of the metal base, which in the finished structure lie conventionally in or adjacent to the wall surface.

Still more specifically, the invention contemplates a metal stud having a base portion which is supported in the metal base, and an upper portion in parallel misalignment with the base portion so as to offset the lath-supporting portion of the stud and to provide for a location of the lath in a plane relatively remote to the side surface or surfaces of the metal base.

In the attached drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a metal framework of a character for use in solid plaster partitions;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the lower portion of the framework;

Fig. 3 is a detached view in perspective of an element ofthe framework shown in Figs. 1 and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the invention as applied to a metallic furring structure;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of an element of the structure shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of another form of conventional metal base structure, and

Fig. 7 is a corresponding view of the base structure shown in Fig. 6 as modified in accordance with my invention.

With;,reference-to Figures 1, 2and 3 of the drawings, the.metal framework as therein illustrated comprises'a base structure I which comprises a channel-member '2, two wash .or facing .plates 3 andA which interlock respectively with the -;upturned flanges of the channel 2, and a plurality of clips 5 which are adaptedto engage .in slotted openings 6 in the upper lnturned flanges of the ,wash plates 3 and 4 to interconnect and support the upper edges of the said plates. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the base channel 2 is adapted tobe secured to a floor surface, by meansfor example of nails or drive screws 1. The framework further comprises a plurality of metal studs 8 of channel form, thelower ends of which seat in. the base. channel 2, and means isprovided inthe form, inthe present instance,

. of a ceiling runner 3 forsupporting the upper ends ofthe said studs. The lower ends of the studs ll are confined between the hooked edges H and thelower flanges [2 of the Wash plates 4, and preferably-the stud fits closely between the saidflanges ll so as to be held frictionally againstmovement. in the channel. Preferably,

;:also,,the clip 5 is formed so-as to cause the inner ends;l3 of theupper flanges ,of the wash plate to be drawntightlyagainstthe side surfaces of the studs 8 to create thereby-a further bond between the studsand themetal ,base structure,

and .toretain all of the elements rigidly intheir proper relativepositions.

This all-metal ,structureisadapted toform a supporting frame-for a solid plaster partition, and to this end, metal lath I4, is secured, by means ,in the ,presentinstanceof,wire clips IE, to one side of the studs ,8. The plaster is built up upon both. sides ,ofthe lath l4 to a total thickness corresponding to the distance between the opposite .side, faces. of the .wash plates 4, the surfaces of the finished partition being indicated by the broken lines in. Fig. ,1.

Themetal framework.describedabove has certain material advantages. of simplicityand ease of .assembly. 'The ,metal base; I is entirely symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line of the partition, and it is only necessary, in constructing the partition, to lay the base channel 2 centrally along the desired line. Thereafter, with the wash plates 3 and. 4, which are identical and interchangeable, in position, and with the studs mounted as described, the elements of the frame necessarily are in exact alignment. One disadvantage of the construction resides in the fact that when the conventional straight stud is used, the metal lath l4 must necessarily occupy a position relatively close to the side face of one of the wash plates and relatively remote to the other, whereas it would be desirable for obvious reasons to locate the lath in a plane more closely adjoining the center line of the partition.

It has been customary in metal frame structures of this general type to form the metal base as to provide for the mounting of the studs in the base in a position offset laterally from the center line of the base and of the partition. This has certain inherent disadvantages, as illustrated for example in Fig. 6, which shows a commercial form of metal base having offset means for supporting the stud in a position of misalignment with respect to the center line of the partition. The metal base shown in Fig. 6 comprises a plurality of independent brackets I6 having means for supporting at opposite edges thereof the wash plates l1 and I8. Each of the brackets [6 has a pressed-out tongue H! which forms in effect a clip for retaining the lower end of the stud 2|. The tongue l9is offset laterally from the center line AA of the clip and also of the finished partition. As a result of this offsetting of the studs, the metal lath 22 is made to occupy a plane closely adjoining the center line of the partition structure. It will be apparent that in a device of this character, the

brackets [6 lack symmetry with respect to the center line A-A, and that, therefore, considerable care must be exercised in securing the brackets in position on the floor surface in order to insure a proper alignment not only of the brackets themselves but also of the studs 2|.

It is obvious that this type of structure, in contradistinction to the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings and described above, af-

fords no positive assurance of exact alignment of the frame members, and that exact alignment 1 can be obtained only by the exercise of considerable care in installation. It has been found that this requirement for careful and ex act installation of the metal base elements retards the installation operation, and thereby materially increases the cost of said installation. There is, therefore, a material advantage in a structure in which the elements of the metal base are entirely symmetrical so as to permit of their being assembled rapidly and accurately.

With further reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and assuming the use of the conventional straight stud, any device that would provide for mounting the stud in the base in a position offset transversely from the plane of the center line of the base would necessarily destroy the desirable symmetrical characteristics of the base structure, and this would inject the same complications of assembly or installation as described above in connection with the form of metal base structure illustrated in Fig. 6. I have found that the desirable locating of the metal lath M in closer proximity to the center line of the metal base and of the finished partition structure may be effected without destroying the symmetrical characteristics of the base structure and by the simple expedient of offsetting the lower end cf the stud, as illustrated in the drawings. With this device, the offset lower end 8a of the stud seats in the metal base I in the normal manner and in true alignment with the center line of the base. The parallel offset portion 81) of the stud, on the other hand, occupies the position with respect to the center line which is required to permit the establishment of the lath I4 in a position closely adjoining the center line of the base and of the partition as a whole.

The device, while of primary importance in connection with the particular metal base construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may be used to advantage in connection with substantially any form of metal base structure. This is illustrated, for example, in Fig. '7, which shows the same form of metal base structure illustrated in Fig. -6 but with the difference that the stud-retaining tongue I9 is in this case located at the center of the bracket [6 so that the bracket is entirely symmetrical with respect to the center line AA, and may be installed without regard to which end of the partition the bracket faces and with assurance that the parts will be in substantial alignment. With this modified form of bracket, the offset stud 8 affords a location of the lath 22 in substantially the same relative position with respect to the center line AA as does the conventional straight strut in conjunction with the unsymmetrical bracket shown in Fig. 6.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have illustrated the invention as applied to a metallic furring structure. In this instance, the base comprises, in addition to the channel 2, a single wash plate 23. The offset stud 8 is seated in the channel 2 in the manner previously described, and the clip 24, see Fig. 5, coacts with the stud and with the upper flange 25 of the wash plate 23 to support the upper end of the wash plate and to bind the inner edge of the flange 25 solidly against the side of the stud. The inwardly offset upper portion 8b of the stud provides for supporting the metal lath I4 in a plane closely adjoining the center line of the channel 2, and affords ample space for the plaster between the lath and the face of the wash plate 23.

I claim:

1. In a wall structure comprising a base having means for defining the plane of the wall surface, a stud having an end portion engaged with said base and having a lath-supporting portion laterally offset from said end portion in direction transverse to said surface.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a metal wall stud having an end portion, and an adjoining lath-supporting portion laterally offset from 1and in parallel misalignment with said end porion.

ARTHUR V. SPINOSA. 

